Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Fletcher.
Julia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My journey began at a mere grade school age. My teachers and friends described me as bubbly, outgoing and filled with life. I loved dancing and theater, I played softball, and spent a dear amount of time with my family. At that time, bullying and accepting others was not strongly addressed to kids like it is today. As early as first grade I was bullied for being overweight- “fat”, “gross”, and “annoying”. Their words would only hurt me for a moment, but I didn’t understand how people could be so mean. The insults continued throughout middle school, my confusion spiraled into an emotional downfall. My freshman year of high school, I decided to become a part of the cheerleading squad, where I first truly discovered my own physical strength. The coaches were tough on us, led us through strenuous 2 hour practices, nitpicked our weaknesses and pressed us hard to ALWAYS be better. As an impressionable young female, I took a lot to heart, and not only that, but I was constantly surrounded by other girls, all who were- to me- cute, thin and glowing with beauty. I thought everybody in the room was perfect except for me, so I wanted to make a change. When the first season of cheerleading ended, I started going to my local sports club to exercise, and my quest for ultimate perfection began. From daily exercise and change in nutrition, I lost 15 pounds in 3 months. My confidence soared and I was praised by my parents and friends about the changes in my appearance. I was proud of myself for my self-motivation and drive. But it wasn’t long before my body plateaued and I had no idea why. I spent more time at the gym- sometimes twice a day, trained harder and ate less, but nothing was working. My frustration grew and grew, until to me, there was no choice but to seek other outlets to losing weight.
You don’t know you have an eating disorder until you are months into it, in denial, constantly seeking some type of way to escape yourself. At 15 years old, I arrived nervously to health class every morning, to listen to the teacher lecture about anorexia and bulimia; my insides burning with the secret that I too was suffering just like those in the books. I kept this devastating personal battle deep within and never told a soul. I started getting panic attacks and heightened anxiety. I would look in the mirror after eating and be frightened at my appearance- body dysmorphic disorder. Finally, after a year, I broke down and confided in my mother for help. Professional help is not always the key, though. I felt extremely uncomfortable in an office with a grown adult going down a generic checklist on a notepad about my eating habits and tendencies, and further trying to fix me by handing me a print out of a “normal” diet and “normal” exercise routine. These sessions only pushed me further away from my recovery, and I rebelled against the doctor’s efforts to help.
2 more years passed, through my high school graduation, breakups with boys I thought I loved, and a semester in college that I couldn’t keep up with from being so sick. I felt at rock bottom so many times. I had to persevere, so I turned to the only thing I thought would help again. Reluctant from being disappointed with myself so many times, I stepped foot back into the gym to turn over a new leaf. With an open mind, I strayed from basic exercises, and began challenging myself with new things. Every day, I grew thicker skin, enjoyed the challenges and the sore muscles. Another two years of mental and physical gain, and I had apparently strength trained through an entire pregnancy. At 20 years old, I was surprised at 28 weeks that I was going to be the mother of an angelic little boy. I treaded on, got back into the gym after giving birth, and pushed forward with a whole new reason. With every dumbbell I lifted, every time I stepped under a barbell, I felt I lived with more and more purpose, for being strong was something to be proud of. I began to believe that my body was built for more than just the way it looked. I had organs and systems inside me that were getting stronger because of the everyday hard work I put in. It was no longer about weight loss, but gaining strength- mentally and physically, feeding my body the proper nourishment for strength rather than associating eating with exercise as punishment. The changes I made in myself were tremendous, and all about my mindset. When I competed in my first powerlifting meet, I truly felt like an athlete after having endured a 14 week training program to prepare for my platform debut.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think a journey is truly remarkable because of its highs and lows! I can’t remember a day that everything has gone according to plan. My biggest struggles have always seemed to come from within- doubting my abilities to achieve goals I’ve set, fearing failure and focusing too much on what I want as the end result and not enough on the key steps I have to take to get there. Every little detail is important when it comes to shaping the life YOU want. Leading a healthy lifestyle is more than diet and exercise. The mental aspect is CRUCIAL. My advice would be to use positive outlets and sources to train your mind to accept yourself in any state during your journey. To bring myself up from a hard time, I sit at my desk and write down ten self-affirmations- positive statements that I truly believe about myself. I write them in pen ink to assure myself they are unchanging. Reminding yourself of your TRUE worth when you are down is the best way to rejuvenate your clarity and motivation to overcome conflict. I also like to read motivational books and quotes, and post them on my tack boards, mirrors and walls. Sometimes small tidbits of uplifting insight can change my entire energy. The ultimate goal is to learn how to overcome failure or lack of progress. It’s never permanent if you are driven enough to continue. I truly suggest finding the best ways that work for you to quickly find positive energy and mindset. That way, whenever you are faced with a harder point in time, you know exactly how to direct yourself back onto your path to success.
We’d love to hear more about Julia Fletcher.
Right now, I am in the process of organizing empowerment group and mentoring sessions for females in their early teens, as well as info sessions for their parents. Having been in the situation where finding the right path for me was confusing, I would have loved to have had a role model and older friend to help me get through the tough times. Sometimes it’s easier to talk to someone who has been through similar problems, rather than reaching out to parents or teachers. I want to provide a bubbly yet easygoing attitude for girls to get comfortable with and be able to open up to. In 2019, I will extending these small group sessions to bigger groups of youth female sports teams, and incorporate my strength and conditioning certification and AAAI/ISMA nutritionist consultant certifications to open the door to strength training and eating for function to young girls.
I am extremely passionate about introducing strength training and weightlifting to females because our bodies are so truly built for function and not appearance, and I want to demonstrate that to the girls and their parents in a simple and understandable manner.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Look for people with similar interests and passions as you. Use social media as your strongest tool, read books, and attend groups and meet ups. Visit a new gym and learn about the environment and meet the people who work there if you’re looking to get more comfortable with exercise. There are plenty of females in strength through Instagram that constantly display their efforts to get stronger. You can learn a lot through social media these days!
Contact Info:
- Email: julia.o.fletch@gmail.com
- Instagram: flexinfletch
Image Credit:
Mia McCue Photography
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